Relay motor



L. E. REID RELAY MOTOR Jan, 28, 193%.

Filed. Feb. 5, 1932 S Sheets-Sheet l Inventor A 11 wneya.

L. E. REID RELAY MOTOR Jan, 28, 1 .936.

Filed Feb. 5,. 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 gin Inventor L. E. REID RELAY MOTORJan. 28, 1936.

Filed Feb. 5, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 4 0PER19T/A/6 &

Patented Jan. 28, 1936 PATENT OFFICE RELAY MOTOR Leland E. Reid, SouthPasadena, Calif.

Application February 5, 1932, Serial No. 591,120

22 Claims.

This invention relates to a motor, and the object of the invention is toprovide a motor of simple construction with means for extendingthe'period during which the motor will drive.

While features of the invention may be applied to motors for any desiredpurpose, in the present specification the invention is described asapplied to a vehicle, for example, a toy aeroplane. Although theinvention has been described as applied to a toy aeroplane, the motorcould as readily be employed for driving a toy vehicle of any kind, forexample, a boat or car.

A common type of motor for driving toy aeroplanes involves the use of atorsion member in the form of a rubber band, or a plurality of rubberbands, which are twisted up so as to store energy in the band. The endof this torsion member is connected with a shaft that drives thepropeller of the toy.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a plurality ofdriving means for a driven shaft or driven member, together with meanswhereby when the power of the first or primary driving means isexhausted, a second, or sec-- ondary, driving means will be brought intooperation; also to provide for a third relay drive when desired.

Further objects of the invention will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the novel parts and combination of parts to bedescribed hereinafter, all of which contribute to produce an efficientrelay motor.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is described in the followingspecification, while the bro-ad scope of the invention is pointed out inthe appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective illustrating a toy aeroplane provided with arelay motor of torsion type embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical section taken through the forward end of theaeroplane and showing a portion of the propeller broken away. This viewillustrates the adjacent ends of the torsion members and illustrates themeans for effecting a primary driving with a primary torsion member anda second driving with the secondary torsion member. This view is upon anenlarged scale.

Figure 3 is a. vertical section taken about on the line 3-3 of Figure 2and further illustrating details of the construction.

Figure 4. is a section about on the line 44 of Figure 2 and particularlyillustrating the means for preventing rotation of the secondary drivingshaft while the primary driving shaft is in action.

Figure 5 is a plan illustrating another embodiment of the invention inwhich special means independent of the torsion members is provided foreffecting the shifting from the primary drive to the secondary drive.

Figure 6 is a vertical section taken on the line 5-6 of Figure 5 andfurther illustrating details of this embodiment of the invention.

Figure 7 is a side elevation illustrating another embodiment of theinvention in which the mechanism involves the use of a sector carryingthe different driving shafts. This view illustrates the primary drivingshaft connected up for actuating the driven shaft, and illustrates themeans for preventing premature rotation of the other driving shaftswhile the drive is taking place through the primary driving shaft.

Figure 8 is a rear elevation of the apparatus illustrated in Figure 7.

Figure 9 is an elevation of the mechanism 7 shown in Figure 7 but viewedfrom the opposite side and in a reversed position. While Figure 7 showsthe mechanism set for effecting drive through the primary shaft, Figure9 shows the apparatus in a shifted position to effect the drive througha secondary shaft.

Figure 10 is a longitudinal section taken on the line llllfl of Figure 7and further illustrating details of the driving connection andparticularly illustrating the means for latching the different drivingshafts in their driving position.

Figure 11 is a section on the line ll-I| of Figure 10 upon an enlargedscale, and further illustrating details of the construction at one ofthe driving shafts, particularly the means for cooperating with thelatch to release the mechanism to enable an alignment to be effected forthe next driving shaft that is to come into action.

Before proceeding to a detailed description of the invention, it shouldbe understood that in accordance with my invention two independent powermeans, or power devices, are employed, and in the starting position ofthe motor one of these power means operates to effect the drive. Whenthis power means becomes exhausted, a shift in the mechanism isautomatically effected to bring thesecond power means into action, andso on.

In the simplest embodiments of the invention, I prefer to employ twopower members, but the invention readily adapts itself to the use of agreater number of power members which can be formed out of a plate, aportion of the plate being formed with a flange 6 to be attached to theframe 4. The flange is preferably integral with the plate I out of whichthe guide 5 is formed, and this plate may be bent up so as to form abearing 8 for the driven shaft 3. .7

On the arcuate guide 5 I provide a shiftable slide 9 which carries aplurality of driving shafts; in the present instance this slide isprovided with two shafts, including a primary shaft II] anda secondaryshaft I I. These shafts are substantially alike in construction and eachshaft is rotatably mounted in ears i2 struck up from the slide and theseears'operate as bearings for the shafts.

' The rear end of the driven shaft 3'is formed with a crank I3preferably disposed in an inclined direction with respect to'the axis ofthe driven shaft, and the shafts ill and II are similarly provided withinclined cranks I4 and I5. While I prefer to employ theseinclined'cranks for enabling the driving shafts to drive the drivenshaft, it should be understood that'any known means maybe employed foreffecting a driving connection between thedriving shaft and the To: therear end of the primary shaft I 0 a primary torsion member I6 isattachedand'a similar] torsion member I! is attachedto the secondaryshaft II. The rear ends of these torsion members ,IB and I I areanchored in the tail I8 of the aeroplane as indicated by the dottedlines in'Figure 1. The torsion" members I6 and I! are preferably formedof rubber bands capable of being twistedupso as to store energy in them.

Figure 2 indicates the mechanismin its pri mary driving position, and atthis time the tension inthe'primary vtorsion member I6 holds the slide 8in a position to maintain the primary driving shaft Iflinlalignment.with the driven shaft 3. a

Means are provided to cooperate with the torsion member I8 so that whenits energy is substantially spent, or exhausted, and its tension V 7 todrive-it.

weakened, the slide 9 will automatically be brought around into ,asecondary position with,

the shaft I I connected up with the driven shaft 3 In the embodiment ofthe invention illustrated in Figure 2, this is eifected through themedium of the relative tension in the torsion members I6 andIT. In'orderto eifect this, the

forward edged the arcuate guide 5 is provided zlfl isimounted in thisdog which operates as the forward bearing forthe'shaft, The tension orwith a notchI9 which is'engaged by a' dog 20 struck up from the edge ofthe'slide; The shaft pull exerted on the shaft I0 maintains this end ofthe slide in a position with the dog 20 in the notchso that the dogoperates as a latch holding the slide in this position.

The tension or rear pull in the shaft I0 is imparted to the dog'ZB andto the slide by the inclined crank I4.

The plate I is provided with-means for preventing the shaft II frombeing prematurely rotated by its torsion member IT. For this pur posethe plate is provided with a projecting lip 2| which is in the path ofthe crank I5 and holds it against rotation.

In the operation of this embodiment of the device, as soon as thetension'in the torsion member I6 becomes too weak to hold the dog 20 Vin the notch, the tension in the torsion member I! will rock the slide 9in a clockwise'direction, as viewed in Figure 2, until the outside earI2 is stopped by the adjacent edge of the guide 5. This willpull the dogout of the notch andwill secondary position in which the shaft II willbecome aligned with the driven shaft 3. It is found in practice thatthese torsion members will unwind themselves very quickly; and it isnecessary to extend the lip 2I as near as possible to the crank'I3 ofthe driven shaft so as to insure that the crank I5 will engage'the crankI3 at the instant that it becomes free from the lip.. In order to insuresuch a mode of opera- 7 tion, I prefer to form the end or edge 22 of ther In this way as the crank I5becomes free fromthe lip, it gives the edge22 of the lip a kick, Which assists in moving the slide down into itssecondary position, and as the crank I5 kicks itself away from the lip,it immediately engages the crank I3 and starts the drive of the drivenshaft 3.

In order to facilitate the disengagement of the dog 29 from the notchI9, it is-preferable to construct the slide so that it does not 'fit tootight on the guide; in other words, the cars 23 which form the bearingsfor the secondary shaft II are preferably far enough apart to permit aslight rotation of the slide to free the dog. For the same reason theears I2 and 29 are also further apart than the width of the guide 5. V

In Figure 5 I illustrate another embodiment of the invention in which Ido not rely upon the tension in the unused torsion member to shift theslide over into its secondary position. Referring to this figure, Iprovide a frame plate 24 which thereafter pull the slide down'intoalower or corresponds to the plate 1, but this plate is formed 7 with astraight guide 25 for the slide 26.

In the starting position the primary driving shaft '21 is held inalignment with the driven shaft 28 through the agency of a dog 29 on theslide which engages a notch Ell on the forward edge 3I of the guide.Resilient means is provided urging the slide to its secondary positionin which the secondary driving shaft 32 would be aligned with consistsof a resilient member such as a rubber band 33, one end of which isanchored at 34 to the shaft 23. r In the present instance this means aflange 35 on the plate, and the other end of theslide so that theresilient means 33 tends to pull the slide laterally, that is to say, ina forward direction. This would disengage the dog 29 from the notch ifit were not for the tension in the torsion member which is attached tothe rear end 58 of the primary shaft 21. By reason of this tension,however, the shaft 21 is pulled rearwardly, and this pulls the sliderearwardly and holds the dog in the notch.

When the tension in theprimary torsion member weakens sufficiently, theresilient member 33 will pull the slide forwardly, or toward the left,asviewed in Figure 5, and. this will dislodge the dog 29. As soon asthis occurs, the tension in theresilient means 33 will pull the slideupwardly on .the guide 25 and bring the shaft 32 into alignment with theshaft 28. When the slide is in, the position shown in Figure 5, thecrank ll of the secondary shaft 32 is held against rotation by aprojecting wing 52 which forms a part of the plate 24. The resilientmeans 33 is constructed so that it still has tension in it after theslide has been shifted to its secondary position, and this tensionmaintains the slide in this position.

In Figures 7 to 11 I illustrate another embodiment of the invention inwhich I provide three driving shafts. Figure '7 shows the mechanism setfor driving through the medium of the pri mary driving shaft 43. Thethree driving shafts, 43, 44, and 15 are all mounted for rotation in thearcuate rim d5 of a sector l'l; said sector constituting a quadrant andhaving rigid arms 48 which are pivotally mounted on pintles 39 and 59which are rigid with the frame plate 5i of the mechanism which isattached to the frame 52 of the vehicle indicated in dotted lines inFigure 7.

The sector or quadrant. i? is also provided with a rigid arm 53 whichprojects radially from the axis of the pintles es and 52 and this arm isengaged by a spring 54 which exerts its force in a direction to swingthe quadrant downwardly and in the direction of the arrow indicated inFigure '7. Thetwo reserved shafts 44 and are prevented from rotationwhen the primary shaft 43 is in action, by means of an arcuate plate 55that is rigid with the frame plate or bracket 5i. In other words, thecranks 56 of the secondary and tertiary shafts lie against this plate55, and the torsion exerted in, the shafts is thereby prevented fromrotating these shafts.

Suitable releasing mechanism is provided for releasing the primary shaft43 and for bringing the secondary shaft 34 into. alignment with thedriven shaft 5?. The preferred mechanism for this purpose is illustratedmore clearly in Figure 10. In this View it will be seen that the bracket5|, in line with the propeller shaft 58, is formed into a housing with aweb 59 that forms a hearing for the driven shaft 57, the rear end ofwhich is formed with an inclined crank 69 (see Figure v'7). The housingalso includes a web 6! (see Figure 10), with a downwardly extendingflange 62 that has a slot 63 for carrying a latch 64, preferably in theform of a plate, the inner end of which is formed with a pintle 55 thatfits into an opening in the web 59.

The slot 53 will permit a lateral movement of the latch sufficient todisengage it from a notch 64 in the edge of the quadrant, (see Figure8), there being one of these notches t l to correspond with each drivingshaft. The end of the spring 54 already referred to thrusts against ahook 67 which projects upwardly from a short bar 63 that is looselysupported in an opening 69 at the junction of the flange 62 with theweb-6!. The tip of this bar 68 is formed with a pintle lil that is receivedin a hole ll punched in the latch plate. Beyond this point the latchplate is formed with an inclined tongue 22, the function of which is tocooperate with means on the driving shaft to release the latch when thetension in the torsion member 73 is sufliciently weak. For this purposeI provide a spring-pressed sliding collar 14 which slides on the shaft43, and similar collars are provided on the other two shafts 43 and 45.The details of this construction are shown clearly in Figure 11.

The shaft 43 is provided at its rear end with a pin against which acoiled spring l5 thrusts,

the forward end of the spring exerting thrust.

against the collar i l. The collar 74 is formed with a sleeve '0'! whichis formed with a slot 18 that receives the pin '55 and permits thecollar to slide freely on the shaft.

This sleeve, through the medium of the slot 15: and the pins 175,transmits the torque from the torsion member F3 to the shaft 43, thetorsion member being anchored by means of a hook 19 to the rear end ofthe sleeve. The forward end of the shaft 53, and the other drivingshafts, is provided with a head Bil under which a ballbearing 8! isprovided to reduce the friction of rotation of the shaft in a bearingbushing 82,

mounted in the web 553.

In the operation of this mechanism as illustrated in Figures 7 to 11,when the tension in the primary torsion member becomes weak, it will nothold the spring 75 longer in compression, and this spring will move thecollar i l forwardly on the shaft 43. The contact of the collar with theinclined tongue ?2 will push the tongue outwardly from the notch E lcorresponding to the primary torsion member, and the tension of theremaining torsion members will then swing the quadrant or sector l? onits ax s of rotation, thereby bringing the secondary driving shaft 45into alignment with the drive-n shaft 5? (see Figure 9). When thissecondary shaft arrives in this position, the latch G l will snap intothe notch E l corresponding to the secondary driving shaft, and hold itin its driving position.

In a similar manner, when the tension in this secondary torsion memberbecomes sufficiently reduced, the latch 64 will be released in themanner just described, thereby enabling the spring to bring the thirdshaft around into line so that its corresponding notch $5 will beengaged by the latch E i to hold the third shaft in line for continuingthe drive.

It is understood that the embodiment of the invention described hereinis only one of the many embodiments this invention may take, and I donot Wish to be limited in the practice of the invention, nor in theclaims, to the particular embodiment set forth.

What I claim is:

l. A relay motor having a driven member, a driving member therefor,power means extending from said driving member, a second driving member,power means extending from said second driving member, a transverselymovable carriage supporting said driving members, means for guiding saidcarriage to move in a direction transverse to the direction in whichsaid power means extend, and automatic means for shifting the drive fromthe first-named driving member to the second named driving member whenthe power means for the first driving member is exhausted.

2. A relay motor having a driven member, a driving member therefor,torsion means extending from said driving member, a second drivingmember, torsion means extending from said second driving member, atransversely movable carriage supporting said driving members, means forguiding said carriage to move in a direction transverse to the directionin which said torsion means extend, and automatic means for moving thecarriage to shift the drive from the firstnamed driving member to thesecond-named driving member when the torsion means for the first drivingmember is exhausted.

3. In a relay motor, the combination of a frame, a guide attached to theframe, a driven shaft, a slide mounted to shift on the guide, a drivingshaft capable of engaging the driven member to drive the same in oneposition of second driving shaft with the said driven member to continuethe drive with the power means corresponding to the second drivingshaft.

4. In a relay motor, the combination of a frame, a guide attached to theframe, a. driven shaft, a slide mounted to shift on the guide, a

driving shaft capable of engaging the driven member to drive the same inone position of the slide, a secondary driving shaft carried by theslide, independent power means for rotating said driving shafts, andcooperating so that when the power means corresponding to thefirst-named driving shaft is exhausted, the slide operates to ft on thesaid guide and align the second driving shaft with the said drivenmember to continue the drive with the power means corresponding to thesecond driving shaft, and means for preventing the rotation of thesecond-named driving shaft until the slide has shifted.

5. In a relay motor, the combination of a frame,- a guide attached tothe frame, a driven shaft, ajslide mounted to shift on the guide, adriving shaft capable of engaging the driven member to drive the same inone position of the slide, a-secondary driving shaft carried by theslide, independent power means for rotating said 7 driving shafts, and,cooperating so that when the power means corresponding to thefirst-named driving shaft is exhausted, the slide operates to shiftonthe said guide and align the second driving shaft with the said drivenmember to continue the drive with the power means corresponding to thesecond driving shaft, said power means consisting of torsion memberscapable of being twisted to store power in the same, said slide" andsaid guide having cooperating means enabling the tension in the torsionmember corresponding to the first-named driving shaft to maintain theslide in position for driving through the first-named driving shaft,said parts cooperating so that when the tension in the torsion shaft, aslide mounted to shift on the guide, a driving shaft capable ofengaging" the driven member to drive the same in one position of the2,028,845 slide, a secondary driving shaft carried by the slide,independent power means for rotating said driving shaftssaid guide andslide having co operating means for latching the slide to the guide'inposition for enabling the first-named driving shaft to drive the drivenshaft, tor sion member connected with the first-named driving shaft andoperating by its own tension to hold the slide latched to the guide, asecond torsion member connected with the secondnamed driving shaft forrotating the same, and means for preventing the second-named drivingshaft from rotating while the first-named driving shaft is aligned withthe driven shaft, said parts cooperating so that when the tension in thefirst-named torsion member weakens, the

tension in the second-named torsion, member will shift the slide to asecond position and align its own driving shaft with the driven shaft tocontinue the driving.

7. A relay motor having a driven shaft, a plurality of driving shafts,said driving shafts having cranks, and said driven shaft having a crankcapable of engaging the cranks of the driving shafts respectively fordriving the same, torsion members corresponding to the driving shaftsand capable of being twisted to store up energy in the same, and meanscooperating with said torsion members for enabling one of said drivingshafts to drive the driven shaft, and operating to shift another drivingshaft into connection with the driven shaft when the energy in thetorsion member of the first driving shaft has be-' rotating the drivenshaft,a torsion'mernber con nected with the first-named driving shaftfor rotating the same to. drive the driven shaft, a second torsionmemberconnected with the secondary driving shaft for rotating thesame,fixed driving shaft is driving the driven shaft, and means associatedwith the guide and the'slide for effecting the shifting of the slidewhen the energy in the first-named torsion member is exhausted to bringthe second-named driving .means adjacent the second-named driving shaftI for preventing its rotation while the first-named shaft into drivingconnection with the driven,

shaft. a i i 9. In a relay motor, the combination of a' frame,

arcuate guide attachedto the frame, a slide V mounted to shift on thesaid guide, a drivenshaft rotatably mounted in the frame, a primarydriving'shaft carried on the slide capable of engaging the driven shaftto drive the same in one position of the slide, a secondary drivin=shaft carried by the slide, independent power 'rneans for rotating saiddriving shafts, means for preventing rotation of thesecondary drivingshaft while the primary driving shaft is driving the, driven shaft, andmeans associated with the slide and the'guide for automatically shiftingthe when the power means corresponding to the primary driving shaft hasbecome; exhausted, and operating to effect a driving connection betweenthe secondary driving shaftand the driven shaft to continue the drivey 710. In a relay motor, the combination of a frame, a guide attached tothe frame, a slide mounted to shift on the said guide, a driven shaftrotatably mounted in the frame and having a of the secondary drivingshaft while the primary driving shaft is driving the driven shaft, and

means associated with the slide and the guide for automatically shiftingthe slide when the power means corresponding to the primary drivingshaft has become exhausted, and operating to effect a driving connectionbetween the secondary driving shaft and the driven shaft to continue thedrive.

11. A relay motor constructed as described in claim 12 in which theguide is provided with a notch and the slide is provided with aprojection for engaging the notch to hold the slide in position formaintaining the primary driving shaft in driving connection with thedriven shaft, and operating so that when the tension in the primarydriving means is weakened, to disengage the slide from the notch andshift the secondary driving shaft into alignment with the driven shaft.

12. In a relay motor, the combination of a frame, a driven shaft mountedfor rotation and having a crank for driving the same, a guide mounted onthe frame, a slide mounted on the guide for movement transverse to theaxis of the driven shaft, a primary driving shaft rotatably mounted onthe said slide and having a crank for engaging the crank of the drivenshaft, cooperating means on the slide and guide for latching .the slidein a primary position with the primary driving shaft in substantialalignment with the driven shaft, means for forcing the slide in adirection to bring the secondary driving shaft into alignment with thedriven shaft, and torsion members corresponding to the two drivingshafts and capable of being twisted to store up energy in the same, thetension in the primary torsion member operating to maintain the slide inits primary position, and means cooperating with the parts to effect therelease of the slide when the tension in the primary torsion memberbecomes weak, thereby enabling the slide to shift into a second positionto continue the drive of the driven shaft by means of the secondarydriving shaft,

13.111 a relay motor, the combination of a frame, a driven shaft mountedfor rotation and having a crank for driving the same, a guide mounted onthe frame, a. slide mounted on the guide for movement transverse to theaxis of the driven shaft, a primary driving shaft rotatably mounted onthe said slide and having a crank for engaging the crank of the drivenshaft, cooperating means on the slide and guide for latching the slidein a primary position with the primary driving shaft in substantialalignment with the driven shaft, resilient means connecting the guidewith the slide for forcing the slide toward a position to bring thesecondary driving shaft into alignment with the driven shaft, torsionmembers corresponding to the two driving shafts supported at one end onthe slide and capable of being twisted to store up energy in the'same,the tension in the primary torsion member operating to maintain theslide in its primary position while the primary driving shaft is drivingthe driven shaft, means connecting the said resilient memher with theslide for unlatching the slide when the tension in the primary torsionmemberbecomes weak, and cooperating with the resilient means to shiftthe slide to a second position to align the secondary driving shaft withthe driven shaft.

14. In a relay motor, the combination of a frame, a driven shaft mountedfor rotation and having a crank for driving the same, a guide mounted onthe frame, a slide mounted on the guide for movement transverse to theaxis of the driven shaft, a primary driving shaft rotatably mounted onthe said slide and having a crank for engaging the crank of the drivenshaft, said guide having a notch, and said slide having a dog forengaging the notch for latching the slide in a primary position with theprimary driving shaft in substantial alignment with the driven shaft,torsion members corresponding to the two driving shafts and capable ofbeing twisted to store up energy in the same, the tension in the primarytorsion member operating to maintain the dog of the slide in said notch,resilient means connecting the slide with the guide for shifting theslide when the dog is disengaged from the notch, and means connectingthe resilient means with the slide for disengaging the dog from thenotch when the tension in the primary torsion member becomes weak, andcooperating with the resilient means to effect a shifting of the slideto align the secondary driving shaft with the driven shaft.

15. In a relay motor, the combination of a frame, a driven shaft mountedfor rotation and having a crank for driving the same, a guide mounted onthe frame, a slide mounted on the guide for movement transverse to theaxis of the driven shaft, a, primary driving shaft rotatably mounted onthe said slide and having a crank for engaging the crank of the drivenshaft, said guide having a notch, and said slide having a dog forengaging the notch for latching the slide in a primary position with theprimary driving shaft in substantial alignment with the driven shaft,torsion members corresponding to the two driving shafts and capable ofbeing twisted to store up energy in the same, the tension in the primarytorsion member operating to maintain the dog of the slide in said notch,resilient means connecting the slide with the guide for shifting theslide when the dog is disengaged from the notch, and means connectingthe resilient means with the slide for disengaging the dog from thenotch when the tension in the primary torsion member becomes weak, andcooperating with the resilient means to effect a shifting of the slideto align the secondary driving shaft with the driven shaft, said guidehaving an extension engaging the crank of the secondary driving shaftwhen the primary driving shaft is driving the driven shaft to preventpremature rotation of the secondary driving shaft.

16. In a relay motor, the combination of a frame, a driven shaftrotatably mounted in the frame, a sector pivotally mounted on the saidframe on an axis substantially in alignment with the driven shaft, aprimary driving shaft mounted on the said sector, a secondary drivingshaft rotatably mounted on the sector, said driven shaft having a crankand said driving shafts having by aligning the secondary driving shaftwith the driven shaft to continue driving the same.

17. Ina relay motor, the combination, of a frame, a driven shaftrotatably mounted in the frame, a sector pivotally mounted on the saidframe on an axis substantially in alignment with the driven shaft, aprimary driving shaft mounted on the said sector, a secondary drivingshaft rotatably mounted on the sector, said driven shaft having a crankand said driving shafts havin cranks, respectively, capable of engagingthe shaft 7 of the driven shaft for rotating the same, torsion memberscorresponding to the driving shafts capable of being twisted to store upenergy in the same, said sector having an arcuate rim with a notchtherein corresponding to the primary driving shaft, a latch supported onthe frame for engaging the said notches respectively, and cooperatingwith the primary notch to hold the primary shaft in cooperativeengagement with the driven shaft, automatic means for releasing the saidlatch when the tension in the primary torsion member becomes weak, andresilient means operating thereafter to rotate the sector on its axis ofrotation and bring the secondary notch into alignmentwith the latch tolatch the sector in a second position with the secondary driving shaftin operative engagement with the driven shaft. 7 t

18. In a relay motor, the combination of a frame, a driven shaftrotatably mounted in the frame, a sector pivotally mounted on the saidframe on an axis substantially in alignment with the driven shaft, aprimary drivingshaft mounted on the said sector, a secondary drivingshaft rotatably mounted on the sector, said driven shaft having a crankand said driving shafts having cranks, respectively, capable of engagingthe shaft of the driven shaft for rotating the same, torsion memberscorresponding to the driving shafts, said sector having an arcuate rimwith a notch therein corresponding to the primary driving shaft, a latchsupported on the frame for engaging the said notches respectively,automatic means for releasing the said latch when the tension in theprimary torsion member becomes weak, resilient means operatingthereafter to rotate the sector on its axis of rotation and bring thesecondary notch into alignment with the latch, and a connection betweensaid resilient means and the latch for pressing the latch against theedge of the rim.

19. In a relay motor, the combination ofia frame, a'driven shaft with acrank rotatably mounted in the frame, a sector pivotally mounted on thesaid frame on an axis substantially in alignment with the driven shaft,a primary driving shaft mounted on the said sector, a secondary drivingshaft rotatably mounted on the sector, said'driving shafts havingcranks, respectively, capable of engaging the crank of the drivenshaftfor rotating the same, torsion members connected respectively to thedriving shafts, said sector hav ing an arcuate rim with a primary notch,and a secondary notch, a latch for cooperating with said notches,respectively to hold the sector in a fixed position; a primary torsionmember con- ;nected with theiprimary drive shaft, and a secsectorthereafter to rotate the same on its axis and latch the sector'in asecond position with the secondary driving shaft in alignment fordriving the driven shaft.

20. Ina relay motor, the combination of a frame, a driven shaft with acrank rotatably mounted in the frame, a sector pivotally mounted on thesaid frame on an axis aligning with the drivenshaft, a primary drivingshaft and a secondary driving shaft rotatably mounted on the sector, andhaving cranks, saidsector having an arcuate rim with a primary notchcorresponding to the primary shaft, and a secondary notch correspondingto the secondary shaft, a latch for cooperating with said notchesrespectively, a pri' mary torsion member connected with the primarydrive shaft, and a secondary torsion member connented with the secondarydrive shaft, a spring pressed collar on the primary shaft, said latchhaving an inclined tongue in the path of the collar when moved by itsspring when the tension in the primary torsion member becomes weak,thereby releasing the sector from the latch, and means cooperating withthe sector thereafter to rotate the same on its axis and latch thesector in the second position with the secondary driving shaft inalignment for driving the driven shaft.

'21. In a relay motor, the combination of a frame, a driven membermounted for rotation about an axis on the said frame, a pair of torsionpower members extending in the same general direction as the said axisof rotation and having their ends remote from the driven member securedto the frame, a carriage associated with the ends of the torsion membersadjacent the driven member and mounted for movement transversely to saidaxis of rotation, means for effecting a driving connection with one ofsaid torsion members, and means for automatically shifting said carriagewhen the energy of the connected torsion member has become exhausted,for establishing a connection from the other torsion member to thedriven member.

22. A relay motor having aidriven member, a

plurality of torsion members capable vof being wound up to store powertherein and mounted with their ends adjacent to the driven member,

nection when the energy in the connected torsion,

member is exhausted, said last-named means operating to establish aconnection between said crank and another one of the torsion members, I

said driven member having an axis of rotation extending in the samegeneral direction as the said torsion members.

' LELAND E. REID.

